ChemEx2 | Chemistry Experiences and Experiments for Learning
The Chemistry Experiences and Experiments for Learning (ChemEx2) professional development program is based on a highly generative model CSET and the Chemistry department have collaborated around since 2009. The initial program included a group of high school chemistry Fellows working in the chemistry labs for eight weeks to develop a unique library of hands-on, “guided-inquiry” labs vetted for tenth grade chemistry classrooms.
The program targets three sets of teachers:
- Teachers who will produce new labs/resources in an eight-week fellowship program;
- Teachers who will learn how to use and consume the resources in a two-week professional development institute; and
- Teachers who will grow from being a teacher to being a teacher leader in a five-day leadership training and then will co-facilitate the 2-week long professional development institute. We plan to grow these teachers to become professional developers capable of creating a ChemEx2 experience in their own school/local area. This is a critical feature to build capacity and scale the network.
The ChemEx2 program includes five components: 1) face-to-face training, 2) development of more content, including labs and resources; 3) creation of a website to disseminate materials and build community; 4) national scaling of the professional development and innovations grants program, and 5) spreading the model to other STEM areas.